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Community POTW #78

Time for the next one. Here, we round off the trio of the Muskedeers with the Pokémon Virizion.

Virizion is the special defender of the muskedeers so is capable of a lot

For reference, before we get the tutors up on the site, these are the tutor moves it gets in B2W2: Block, Bounce, Giga Drain, Helping Hand, Seed Bomb, Sleep Talk, Snore, Superpower, Synthesis, Worry Seed, Zen Headbutt

Virizion's typing is shared only by Breloom, who functions completely differently. Virizion has decent stats all around apart from defence. Speed is at 108 which seems funny but allows you to outspeed base 100's, of whom there are many of. Finally, he's got great SpDef allowing you to tank special hits, which works well with his resistances. He's able to switch into Dark type moves (which he already resists) and get a free attack boost which is great, as it places you into sweeping zone. But he has some crippling weaknesses, notably a 4x weakness to flying.

Swords Dance gets your Attack skyhigh. Sacred Sword is all round reliable and as a bonus is not affected by stat changes so you can switch into something boosting its defence whilst you swords dance away and then retaliate. Leaf Blade is great and if you get the crit it can be a KO. X-Scissor gives Virizion a way to hit Psychics and possibly darks if you manage to (works well with Virizions ability.

Set up Screens, preferably on a special attacker. That's it, with a lot of weaknesses you won't survive much longer. TAUNT is there for stopping other screeners and co, and GIGA DRAIN helps you do damage, plus some healing which is always nice.

Not sure if we can post sets with those just yet seeing how BW2 just came out but I just wanted to point that out. I can see Zen Headbutt used on the Swords Dance set for coverage against other Fighting types (Especially Conkeldurr which gets all 3 Elemental Punches now.) Plus Sleep Talk could make a Resttalk set seeing how bulky it is.

EDIT: Zen Headbutt is also an option for taking out Toxicroak seeing how it resists all the other moves it usually uses on that set and OHKOs with Ice Punch. You might want to consider it then.

Oh yeah. One of the more balanced Musketeers. While Cobalion has higher physical defense, it is weak to the most common physical attacks in the game: Close Combat, Earthquake, Mach Punch, etc. Virizion on the other hand, is like the opposite. It has base 129 special defense as its highest stat, allowing it to take neutral special hits with ease. It is by no means a slouch offensively either. Base 90 attacking stats with Swords Dance, Calm Mind, and Work Up to boost them are not to be overlooked. It also shares its great base 108 base speed with the other Musketeers. However, it has trouble taking physical hits, so common priority moves, namely Mach Punch, will easily pick it off. Its also weak to Ice Shard. Its still quite a versatile Pokemon though.AbilityJustified: Good, but not as useful on Virizion as its other abusers since the most common Dark-type moves are physical. For example, Virizion takes a somewhat hefty 22-26% from standard mixed Tyranitar's Crunch. It is still useful for coming in on Hydreigon's Dark Pulse.

Easily the best offensive set Virizion can run. Leaf Blade and CC are main STAB, but Sacred Sword can be used over CC to retain Virizion's great special bulk. Stone Edge is there for added coverage against things like Gyarados, Dragonite, Salamence, and Volcarona. It also can be used to hit Gengar, who resists or is immune to both STABs, and Virizion usually survives a hit from Gengar, who is faster than it.

This is quite different from what you would probably expect. Virizion, can also use a hit and run tactic quite well. Close Combat is generally preferred as you usually won't be it for long. X-Scissor is there to hit Reuniclus who might give you trouble.

Counters
Toxicroak resists all of Virizion's common moves and can OHKO Virizion with Ice Punch after a Swords Dance provided it is holding a Life Orb. Virizion is also paired sometimes with Politoed, so Toxicroak will heal itself with Dry Skin. Choice Band Scizor can take a +2 Sacred Sword and potentially OHKO's with Bug Bite (Bullet Punch doesn't OHKO). Just be weary, as if Virizion runs CC instead, it will OHKO. The Lati@s, both outspeed Virizion and can prey on its lower defense with Psyshock, which will bring down the Musketeer in one hit. Tornadus can abuse Virizion's rain support and KO with a 100% accurate Hurricane.

Low enough Defense for a 1KO from a solid Physical Attacker will make Viriz' less likely to wreak havoc...but, oh, what havoc it can wreak. Close Combat, Double Kick, Focus Blast, and Sacred Sword are standard Fighting-STAB-fare for the Muskedeer Pokemon, Giga Drain, Energy Ball, Leaf Blade, Grass Knot, and Magical Leaf are nice for Grass STAB, and access to Hidden Power, Aerial Ace, Stone Edge, and X-Scissor round out the repertoire quite nicely. You may not have the Attack nor priority of Breloom, but you do have better Speed, HP, and Sp.Atk at your disposal.

Unburden-lee, Ambi-Technician, Bulky Poison Types, STAB Psyshock from Alakazam, Starmie, and Espeon, and a few others can stop Viriz' dead in its tracks due to its Dual-Type and Barely-Above-Average Defense. It has issues that can be handled, but, oftentimes, not by itself.

Ability:
Justified: Attack is raised by one stage when the Pokémon is hit by a Dark-type move. Useful (not as useful compared to Terrakion, since Verizon can use special sets) considering the resistance to Dark-type moves (say hi to Whimsicott's Beat Up once again) and if you're using a physical set.
Note: Is this another "Déjŕ vu" feeling?

Verizon's puns:
In the name of ???, I will PUNish you (Version 3.0)
You can use Arceus, Verizon, Virizion, swordsmanship, the Pokémon Musketeer Squad, the Sword of Justice, friendship, Greenpeace and so on in this pun
Greenpeace's Sword of Justice
Verizon's Sword of Justice
One for all, all for one (works well in Triple Battles whose partners are Cobalion and Terrakion)
Verizon Wireless (already mentioned)
A true Musketeer always wields swords! (Set 1)
Choose your sword wisely! (Set 2)
The Greenpeace Musketeer (Set 3)

Having Giga Drain is amazing. Having Giga Drain with Calm Mind is even more amazing. Focus Blast is secondary STAB. The last slot on this set is best for Substitute so that Virizian doesn't become status fodder, but a Hidden Power can be used as well. Rock smacks fire and flying, dark hits ghosts, and fire hits opposing grass and Scizor.

A more offensive approach. Energy Ball is an option over Giga Drain for the added power (though it isn't a big difference), but Giga Drain's healing is always welcome.

Dual Screens
I am not good at building Dual Screens for nature and EVs and stuff. Only the moveset. Sorry!
@: Light Clay/Leftovers

Reflect
Light Screen
Giga Drain
Substitute/Safeguard

Dual Screens, status blocking, and healing make Virizion an excellent Dual Screener. Substitute is a great move to block stuff in general, but Safeguard can protect your teammates from status as well as yourself.

Virizion is in the middling muskedeer. It doesn't dominate OU like Terakion, yet it hasn't fallen to UU like Cobalion. 129 Spdef allows it to sponge special attacks with ease, 90 in both offences is adequate when you have access to Swords Dance, Calm Mind and Work Up. 108 Spd is excellent as well. Its Grass/Fighting typing is fairly average both offensively and defensively and that does hold it back.

Counters
Latias immediately springs to mind. it resists both STABs, and thanks to it's massive Spdef, it only really fears X-scissor or boosted Stone Edge. In return Psyshock preys on Virizion's weaker Defence. Latios, Celebi and Victini also do well thanks to their typing and Psyshock and other fast Psychics like Azelf and Espeon revenge it well.
Speaking of Victini, sun sweepers generally do wonders against Virizion. Venusaur in particular can beat it with Sludge Bomb or Roast with Hidden Power and Volcarona deserves a special mention too. Scarfed [insert Fire type] only fears Stone Edge.
In rain, Toxicroak owns it. It resists everything the physical set can throw at it, and can heal of HP Ice with Dry Skin and Poison Jabs/Ice Punches to death. Both Tornadus formes are decent checks in Rain with their ridiculous Hurricanes.
Skarmory laughs at Swords Dance sets and does pretty well against CM or Work Up sets too. It can setup Spikes, phaze it out with Whirlwind or just OHKO with Brave Bird.

Thanks to its average typing and offences, Virizion isn't nearly as big a threat as Terakion. Despite this, it's still fast, bulky and holds a niche as a good rain check. Don't give it the chance to setup, and you'll fare just fine.

The Awesome Thing About that Virizion Is That It Can Do Various Things. Leaf Blade For Stab and It's Higher critical hit Rate, Close Combat For A Strong Fighting Stab Or X-Scissor To get Back at Lati@s.

Partners
Politoed. drizzle, And ice Beam To Back you Up. But Toxixroak May Use This As An Advantage, So Giving Politoed Earthquake/Hidden Power (Psy/Grond) Will Give Toxixroak A Disadvantage. I n Triple Battles, Sppedy Psychics With Shaow ball, like A Lati, Alakazam or Espeon, To Counter Lati@s or toxicroak, or even Though You'll Probably Never See It, Shedinja.

Counters
As Said Above, Dry Skin Sucker Punch Toxicroak Will be A Threat To Virizion and If Politoed Drizzled, Or A Psychci defends It, Dry Skin/Sucker Punch Woul Give Your fie A Hard Time. Lati@s Is Awesome Aswell, As They Only Fear X-Scissor.

My First POTW Post
Sorry For My Bad Spelling, I Was Typing This On My 3DS Without a Stylus(Basicly Using My nails.)

anyway I use a virizion on my rain team
Virizion didn't get ANYTHING new in BW2 it stays the same

I like the physical sweeper more than the special one it have more powerful and realiable moves while the special is more defensive, the physical is more destructive it can easily set up on special attackers not called tornadus while it have problems with physical attackers
I don't like the special one for one reason- focus blast

unlike terrakionn virizion have some checks like the newly tornadus-T skarmory and Co.

Tornadus-T have only to fear stone edge but it can come in outspeed and kill virizion with *4 STAB

Virizion is a pretty great pokemon. It has really nice typing and it's stats are incredibly usable. Its ability is decent, if you predict correctly, but its move-pool is phenomenal. Overall, I love using this guy.

AbilitiesJustified: Whenever you get hit by a Dark type move, your Attack rises by one or two stages. Good if you can predict an Attack and switch in.

I'm a Pretty Special Muskadeer
-Calm Mind
-Giga Drain
-Focus Blast
-Hidden Power Ice
Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs and Nature: Modest (+Sp. Atk, -Atk)
252 Hp/128 Sp. Atk/128 Sp. Def or 252 Hp/252 Sp. Atk
This is probably the most common Virizion set out there. The EVs are for bulk. Calm Mind raises Sp. Atk and Sp. Def, which is really helpful; Giga Drain is amazing, acting as STAB and healing potential Life Orb Damage; Focus Blast is also STAB; Hidden Power Ice is for the ever-present Dragon threat. Life Orb is for more power, while Lum Berry is to prevent Virizion from becoming crippled.

Why, You Ask? Why, I'm Special Because I can work a Physical Set, Too!
-Swords Dance
-Leaf Blade
-Stone Edge
-Close Combat
Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs and Nature: Jolly (+Spd, -Sp. Atk)
252 Atk/252 Speed
So this is Virizion's less common physical set. Swords Dance to boost his Attack to astonishing levels. Leaf Blade is STAB, as is Close Combat, while Stone Edge is coverage against those pesky Dragons and Flying types. The items are for the same reasons mentioned above.

Can You Hear Me Yet? No? Alright, I'm Working on it.
-Work Up
-Giga Drain
-Close Combat
-Hidden Power Ice
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs and Nature: Hasty (+Spd, -Def)
120 Atk/136 Sp. Atk/252 Speed
This is a mixed set for Virizion. Work Up to increase both offensive stats, Giga Drain to heal Life Orb (which is necessary for power) recoil, Close Combat for powerful STAB that's more reliable than Focus Blast, and Hidden Power Ice is for, you guessed it, Dragons.

Virizion is the second most used member of the muskedeer Pokemon. It boasts the same stats as Cobalion except for its defenses, which are swapped. So Virizion packs a below-average base 72 Defense stat but an excellent base 129 Sp. Defense stat. Verizion's typing is also quite unique. The Grass and Fighting combo is shared only by Breloom, and Virizion plays very differently from Breloom, so neither is outclassed. This typing grants it some very useful resistances, including Ground, Grass, Water, Rock, Electric, and Dark. On the downside, a 4x Flying weakness plus weaknesses to Psychic, Fire and Ice attacks are unfavorable. Still, Virizion's typing and stats make it an excellent Pokemon to use on or against weather teams, especially rain. Don't let that low Defense and a small movepool fool you; while Virizion may not strike as much fear as its sibling Terrakion, it's still a threat to watch for.

Recommended tier: OU

Like the other muskedeers, Virizion has Justified as its only ability. When hit with a Dark attack, its Attack rises. While this is useless on special Virizion, physical variants really appreciate it.

Close Combat and Sacred Sword are your choices for a physical Fighting move, while you only have Focus Blast to turn to for a special one. Giga Drain is very useful on Virizion and really helps its staying power. You can also use Grass Knot or Energy Ball, but they don't provide recovery. Use Leaf Blade instead if you prefer physical. Stone Edge provides good coverage; X-Scissor is okay as filler. Hidden Power Ice is the only way a special Virizion will be hitting Flying types, and is also its main way of defeating Gliscor. Virizion is the only muskedeer that can set up duel screens, and it can do so fairly easily thanks to its speed, bulk, and access to semi-reliable recovery. Virizion can also make great use of Swords Dance, Calm Mind, and Work Up.

Double and Triple options: Basically, it can do the same job as Cobalion and Terrakion.

Countering Virizion: Hit it hard with supereffective physical attacks. Flying attacks are best, but they are uncommon. Skarmory and Gliscor can defend well against physical variants, but Gliscor must beware of Hidden Power Ice. The special variants can be stopped by Chansey and Blissey; the pink blobs won't like a Calm Mind boosted Focus Blast, but they can wear Virizion down with Toxic and Seismic Toss, since Virizion's Giga Drains won't be stealing much of their HP. Gallade does quite well against special variants, and his Psycho Cut will hit hard.

This set is for Virizion to be a physical sweeper. With a Base 90 Attack, it isn't bad, but it isn't a Haxorus or a Tyranitar. Stone Edge for Ice and Flying Types. X-Scissor for pesky Psychic types and for other Dark and Grass (*Shiftrycoughchoke*) types. Close Combat is great for a physical and it is a filler. Sacred Sword isn't affected by Pokemon who try to boost their defenses and wall your team. Leaf Blade, just like Stone Edge, has a high critical rate, and counters many types. Virizion, the musketeer who can be a special or physical sweeper.

Counters:

Latias and Latios resists all of Virizion's STAB moves. Flying types such as Gliscor can switch in to X-Scissor or other Bug moves Virizion can use. Foretress walls it and Virizion can't do much without a Partner, as Foretress can resist a ton of moves Virizion can pull. Pison types like Muk and Weezing can absolutely ruin Virizion. Weezing can Flamethrower and Will-O-Wisp Virizion, not to mention Gunk Shot or Sludge Bomb. Muk's common Minimize/Slude Bomb set is what keeps Virizion up at night. Froslass, Beartic, and other Ice types can take advantage of Virizion's Ice weakness. Especially Beartic can use Icicle Crash to OHKO due to the musketeer's Base 72 Defense stat.

Last edited by XxOshwhatxX; 24th June 2012 at 6:32 PM.

If you want me to do a Black or White Challenge, just tell me. I get bored.

Other Moves and Potential Counters
Aside from Poison and Psychic Types, Stone Edge covers most Pokemon with STAB on Virizion's Weaknesses, and X-Scissor covers any Psychic Types that aren't faster with access to Psyshock (Alakazam or Espeon, for examples). Poison Types wall both of Viriz's STAB Types, but must beware of Stone Edge and Hidden Power (Ground or Psychic) if they have lower defenses and/or HP. Despite the durability, Gengar is a solid choice with a Speed advantage and a ton of Sp.Atk to hammer into Viriz's more-than-ample Sp.Def). Nidoking-and-queen and Toxicroak resist Stone Edge, X-Scissor, and Viriz's STAB Types (even though the Nido' duo is neutral to Grass), but the Hidden Power Types I mentioned will hurt a bit.

And this week we have Virizion (maybe we'll get Keldeo next week at the rate this is going). Virizion has its own unique niche in the OU metagame just because of how versatile it is. It can do many things, making it the most versatile of the musketeers.

To name a few movesets (with the inclusion of some new move tutor attacks):

Like all the other musketeers, Virizion can do an SD set. Like the others, it's the same concept: set up SD and sweep. Leaf Blade is better than Seed Bomb due to the higher base power and high critical hit ratio. The fighting move depends on the preference of the trainer. Zen Headbutt is for opposing fighting types and X-Scissor is for psychics. Either one of these is preferred if using Jolly. Otherwise, HP Ice is for dragons.

Virizion has high special defense and can boost it even further with the use of Calm Mind. Same as the SD sweeper, you set up and then attack. Giga Drain is for recovery and works relatively well with Life Orb. Solarbeam is an option if you can guarantee sun support, though. If you can't depend on weather or don't need recovery, then Energy Ball is a perfect option. Unfortunately, the best fighting special attack it gets is Focus Blast. When it hits, it leaves opposing steel types either fainted or on the verge of fainting after a few boosts. HP Ice is for dragons.

There are so many options with this set. It's not the best idea to do a Work Up set, but it does have its uses. It looks like a combination of the two sets above because that's what it is; there are many moves to choose from. HP Ice is essential for dragons, though.

If you asked my opinion, this set is outclassed by Uxie, Mesprit, and others like them, but Virizion can also pull off dual screens. The screens are there to support the team. Synthesis is for recovery if you know you'll have sun support, but Giga Drain is more reliable for recovery. Leaf Blade is an offensive option if using Jolly. Sacred Sword is preferred over Close Combat if you're doing Jolly just because Virizion will not be delivering strong hits. Because this is a dual screener, it needs to hold on to its defenses. Focus Blast is if you're using Timid.

I'll leave it to someone else to suggest partners for Virizion.

As for counters to Virizion, they can be summed up in two words: physical attackers. Any physical attacker, you name it: Scizor, Terrakion, Infernape, Conkeldurr, offensive variants of Gliscor, Weavile, Breloom, Toxicroak, Scarf Darmanitan, Scarf Salamence, and Scarf Landorus. They all make Virizion drop dead. Psychics with Psyshock also make quick work of Virizion. Another thing worth mentioning is Virizion's 4X flying weakness. Any STAB Flying attack will leave Virizion fainted; I've seen a Virizion get OHKO'd at full HP from Tornadus' Hurricane.

Even with Reflect support, Virizion cannot take physical hits at all. Unfortunately, as one can clearly see above, OU has plenty of Pokemon that can target Virizion's physical defense and KO it easily (although some that are counters that are listed will have to watch out for some of Virizion's attacks).

Overall, it's easy to defeat, but don't underestimate it. It can and will leave a nice dent in your team if given a chance.

Last edited by overlordmewtwo; 24th June 2012 at 7:19 PM.

I will be less active as time goes on; I have many things to do to get into college and will be focusing on that, so if you don't hear from me for a while, just be patient. I will respond, but it may take some time.

Black FC: 1764-6597-3816

Spoiler:- claims:

Crash Bandicoot Warped. IMO, the best of the series!
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Yeah, I'm a brony!
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
More to be added.

Toxic staller virizon. Ok toxic for start, focus blast to prevent steels walling you. Protect stalls, so does substitute. Bounce stalls and gives damage. This is only where you should use it. Speed/hp evs are for either bulk or trying to outspeed with some bulk.

The near-perfect counter to weather Teams. Leaf Blade whacks water types, stone edge whacks fire types, and sacred sword takes care of hailers and sandstormers. Be sure to put up a reflect.
Be on a lookout for Toxicroak, Arbok, and Gengar by having a psychic type by your side like Alakazam.

We do know Toxicroak needs to watch out for Zen Headbutt, anyway Tornadus really bring Virizion down with STAB Huricanne or Flying gem boosted Acrobatics.
Another pun: Very-easy-on battle

Agreed, but that's only if we can get a true confirmation on Viriz' actually learning Zen Headbutt via Tutor. If so, it'll be a toss-up for two Moveslots between these most likely three - X-Scissor, Zen Headbutt, and Stone Edge - if you choose to go for Moves of both STAB Types. However, unless you're worried about Stone Edge's Accuracy, it'll most likely be one slot between X-Scissor and Zen Headbutt. If ZH is not available, you still have partners more-than-capable of countering your opponent's Virizion-counter.

I'm hoping it does get ZH, though, because I love having a chance of a random Flinch on top of the Move's Type coverage and Viriz's sweet Speed. No amount of skill and preparation can stop a lucky blow, but those shouldn't be relied on (unless you're a chaotician or gambler). The raw power isn't too shabby either.

Agreed, but that's only if we can get a true confirmation on Viriz' actually learning Zen Headbutt via Tutor. If so, it'll be a toss-up for two Moveslots between these most likely three - X-Scissor, Zen Headbutt, and Stone Edge - if you choose to go for Moves of both STAB Types. However, unless you're worried about Stone Edge's Accuracy, it'll most likely be one slot between X-Scissor and Zen Headbutt. If ZH is not available, you still have partners more-than-capable of countering your opponent's Virizion-counter.

I'm hoping it does get ZH, though, because I love having a chance of a random Flinch on top of the Move's Type coverage and Viriz's sweet Speed. No amount of skill and preparation can stop a lucky blow, but those shouldn't be relied on (unless you're a chaotician or gambler). The raw power isn't too shabby either.

Back on topic, Virizion faces stiff competion from Breloom as the Swords dance power is outclassed by Breloom, but on the special side is where Virizion shine, sponging special attacks from Calm Mind boosts and recovers with Giga Drain.

Originally Posted by Excitable Boy

wow, we're now pre-ordering an 18 year old game

guess Nintendo knows how poorly GS play and needs a cheap pre-order bonus to rope people in

gotta get the preloads in so the servers don't get hammered by all those nerds trying to download their 0.00004 GB of retro meh on relaunch day

Back on topic, Virizion faces stiff competion from Breloom as the Swords dance power is outclassed by Breloom, but on the special side is where Virizion shine, sponging special attacks from Calm Mind boosts and recovers with Giga Drain.

Alrighty, then...consider me excited...

Breloom outclasses Viriz' on Attack anyway and has priority with Mach Punch, but not Sp.Atk. That and healing HP while Poisoned sets it apart from Virizion. Much like how different Scizor and Escavalier, Cobalion and Lucario, Steelix and Excadrill, or Mandibuzz and Honchkrow are - same Types, but different ways to handle and use.

Virizion is a lot like Cobalion offensively with its ability to go Physical, Special, or Mixed, but is definitely different on the defensive end of things with less durability from one quad-Weakness (instead of more durability with two quad-Resistances like Cobal' has). Another example of similar mold, different strategies, like the Eevee-lutions.

Viriz' has lots of ways to cover its own weaknesses from STAB users, but must sacrifice one STAB Move's slot to cover almost all of them (unless they outright-counter you). Not a bad thing, though, but it can be hard to determine who you'll likely face when reviewing your options - almost all of which are pretty awesome...